HockessinKid
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I enjoyed hosting GroovySauce at my home yesterday. We spent several hours listening to my MWI modified Cambridge CXN V2 and his Mojo Audio May KTE DAC.
The May KTE was tethered to the CXN V2 initially via a Triode Wire Labs coax cable then a Snake River cable. Groovy brought a couple of IC's so the CXN and May KTE could be connected to my CSP3's two RCA inputs, this allowing easy comparison between the two units. We listened to a variety of music streamed via Qobuz w/ Roon. Hopefully GS can provide info on the cables he brought, as I did not write them down.
The musical reproduction and listening proved superb through the Caintuck Audio Lii 15 open baffles. These speakers are very efficient and excelled in allowing comparison between the CXN V2 and Mojo Audio May KTE DAC's.
The May KTE is the real deal! While the DAC's have a very similar tonality, the May just exuded gobs more detail and separation of detail within a deeper and wider soundstage on all the music selections. Music appears from the blackest backdrop and provided me the most immersive listening i've ever experienced.
Both units have a similar tonality and natural sound. The CXN V2 has a bit more lively and a mid-hall listener placement presentation. It exhibits a wonderful deep, wide and high soundstage. The placement of individual instruments and vocals just doesn't have the amazing separation and "reach out and touch quality" of the May DAC IMHO. The May DAC places a listener closer to the front of the hall, not in a bad way at all. The presentation is ultra articulate, a bit less lively but the detail and realism is there in spades.
Suffice to say the SQ of both units is superlative IMHO. The May KTE as as stand alone DAC requires a separate streaming device unless your just listening CD's, so one should keep this in mind.
The May KTE runs $4995 plus shipping from China. The CXN V2 is $1099 shipped from Crutchfield with $1500 for the ModWright modifications. So $ $2600 for the whole enchilada.
While I was deeply impressed with the May KTE I won't be buying one as I'm completely satisfied with the CXN V2. More importantly, I thoroughly enjoyed my time getting to meet GroovySauce and sharing some our mutual joy of all things audio and life in general.
BTW, on an interesting note there was a very discernable difference in the when we swapped out the Triode Wire Labs coax with the Snake River (a non coax) cable. TheTRL gave a somewhat softer presentation. So digital cables can sound different, maybe worth some experimentation in your system 😉.
HK
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